‘Balancing it out’ with Ali Chapman

So after interviewing a model, yoga teacher and nutritional author I asked a few of you who you would like to hear from next. A working mum was the answer from many. I immediately knew who to ask!

Ali is mum to 3 boys, author of a lifestyle blog and runs a successful freelance social media marketing business while championing the corner for working single mums.

1) What three things do you do to keep your mind healthy?

First and foremost, I keep a planner and write everything down to stop my mind getting too busy, but I also find writing a blog post is the best therapy if I’ve got to get things off my chest for some head space. Keeping positive helps push any negative thoughts a side, I’m a firm believer in Karma which helps too.

2) What is your morning routine?

I start each morning drinking freshly squeezed lemon water, brew some fresh coffee while I take a shower, get myself and my youngest ready and walk the dog before starting work.

3) Which quote leaves you feeling most inspired?

Every end is a new beginning, every goodbye is a new hello. Just as the caterpillar thought life was over, it spread it’s wings and took flight.

4) What is your favourite daily ritual?

Every evening, before bed, I tidy up the lounge so I start the day walking into a tidy room. I’m a firm believer in having a tidy house to keep my mind tidy.

5) What would be your best beauty advice?

I take my makeup off every night and cleanse, tone and moisturise.

6) What is your favourite thing to do on a day off?

I always feel good if I’ve started my day off with a gym session or run. Then a good mooch around the shops and lunch, I could so be a lady who lunches! Anything which takes my mind off work and chores is my perfect day off, but I need to keep busy. There’s rarely a time when I sit and relax without feeling guilty about not getting on top of my work load.

7) What would be your 3 top tips to working mums from your experience?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, I started out trying to work around my kids and never asking for help, but if I’m giving 100% I need to know my kids are being looked after and I have a back up plan.

Being organised with meals, using my iPhone reminders is a must but also knowing when to let the housework go is a good trick. I hate mess and often have internal battles to leave it until I’ve met my work deadlines. My older boys have chores which helps too,

it’s also a good trick to accept that you can’t always do everything and sometimes a pizza in the oven while sitting on the sofa will save your sanity. Some days I’m simply exhausted and so I can still get through the bed time routine without losing the plot I need to slacken the mum reins a little.

8) When you are feeling stressed what do you do to relax and unwind?

I find talking to my friends or family is the best therapy, followed by going for a run or long walk with a good soundtrack to lose yourself and cancel out your thoughts. If it’s been a particularly stressful day, I’ll switch off the laptop in the evening, pour a glass of wine and either read or get a friend round.

Content, I’m happiest when I’m content. Being an optimistic person I’m always striving to see the positive in any situation and when things don’t go as planned I remind myself it’s happened for a reason. I love it when I realise how happy I’m feeling and it’s taken me by surprise, I was on holiday recently with my 3 boys and was sitting by the pool watching them play together and it seeing how far we’ve come as a family, and how well they’ve adapted to our new family set up made me immensely happy. Sharing a joke with my best friend is another favourite. Happiness for me is seeing my nearest and dearest happy, I feed off them.

11) What is your biggest fear?

Losing loved ones is top of my fear list. I’m super close to my family and since I’ve been single, they’ve been my absolute rocks. I know I’m a strong person and can put my mind to most things but that’s only down to the pillars of support behind me. My life is about to take another unexpected turn and once again, it’ll only be with those guys having my back that I’ll be able to keep ace-ing being a working single mum.

12) What is your biggest challenge in everyday life and how do you work on over coming it?

Fitting in runs and gym sessions is my biggest challenge as they have to be planned around childcare and work. If I have deadlines to meet, fitness always takes a back seat which is crazy as I work so much better with a clear head after a run.

13) Who is your biggest inspiration? Can be past or present, family or famous, please include why?

This is a tough one as I admire different people for different reasons, but right now, it has to be my mum. She’s the most selfless person I know and always putting others above her. We’re so close and my hope is that I’m taking some clues off her to always put my children first, no matter what, and that one day we have the relationship like my mum has with my siblings and I.

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